The Long Island Association’s Priorities and Initiatives for 2018 include the

critical issues, policies and projects we will advocate for on behalf of the
Long Island business community this year. We are committed to achieving
these objectives in order to create jobs, spur private investment, promote
economic development, reduce the property tax burden and improve the
overall business climate in our region. The LIA will continue to collaborate
with other organizations on Long Island and throughout the state to build
support for these initiatives.

Top 18 Priorities for 2018

1. Advocate for the full reinstatement of federal income tax deductions for state and local taxes (“SALT”) as
the recently approved cap on deductions will inequitably impact our region. Also, support a study to re-
examine how the New York State Income Tax Code and Long Island government could be restructured to
deal with the reduction of the SALT deductions and continue to promote economic development as a way
for state and local governments to generate revenues through growth in the economy.
2. Support making the New York State property tax cap permanent and support a 2% cap on state spending
growth in light of the loss of SALT deductions.
3. Support the Long Island Builders Institute’s proposed legislation that would require a bond be submitted
by the party appealing a land-use decision pursuant to Article 78 of the New York State CPLR in order to
protect project sponsors from associated costs relating to delays caused by these appeals of municipal
decisions.
4. Assist the new Nassau County Executive and new Hempstead Town Supervisor with redevelopment at the
Nassau Hub, including the creation of an Innovation District with a Biotech Park and a BRT system to the
Hempstead and Mineola LIRR stations and green pedestrian crossings to Hofstra University, Nassau
Community College and RXR Plaza as well as a structured parking facility to maximize the usage for the
remaining acreage surrounding the newly renovated Nassau Coliseum.
5. Support the state’s efforts to redevelop Belmont Park, with an enhanced and expanded LIRR station for the
New York Islanders’ proposed new arena at Belmont, while advocating for the team to play its home
games at the Nassau Coliseum until the new arena is built, and for relocating and combining all downstate
racing at Belmont Park.
6. Support continued state funding for the creation of a Research Corridor from Brookhaven National
Laboratory to the New York Genome Center in Manhattan, increased funding for federal research agencies
that collaborate with our world-class local assets and facilities, and support $30 million in state funding
previously approved for the Center for Bioelectronic Medicine as proposed by Northwell Health’s
Feinstein Institute of Medical Research, which will be geographically re-designated to Manhasset, and
support Long Island University’s initiative to open the region’s first College of Veterinary Medicine, along
with the proposed Center for Autism and Human Functioning at Molloy College.
7. Support acceleration of the Long Island Rail Road Expansion Project from Floral Park to Hicksville (Third
Track) and support additional investments in the LIRR, including electrification of the system to a new
station near Brookhaven National Laboratory in Yaphank and eventually to Riverhead, as well as to Port
Jefferson and Patchogue.
8. Build regional support for the expansion of Long Island MacArthur Airport with new airlines and
destinations, a Federal Inspection Services facility to allow for international flights and strengthen its
connectivity to the LIRR station at Ronkonkoma. Also, support Suffolk County and Town of Islip efforts
to redevelop the south side of the Ronkonkoma Hub adjacent to the airport.
9. Support the Governor’s efforts to continue evaluating a new Long Island Sound crossing such as a bridge
or tunnel to improve traffic on and off Long Island and better connect our economy to New England and
encourage the federal government to pay for it as part of the National Infrastructure Program expected to
be proposed by the President in 2018.
10. Build on the success of the LIA’s Women’s Collaborative by supporting equal pay for equal work and
educating businesses about workplace sexual harassment and sexual discrimination, while encouraging
more women to enter careers in the STEM field and advance to C-Suite executive positions.
11. Support efforts to ensure that the state’s new paid family leave policy and proposed regulations to establish
a 14-day advance notice for employee scheduling do not create additional burdens on businesses and
encourage the state to allow for exemptions for small businesses.
12. Support the acceleration of the state’s analysis of the effect of the next minimum wage increases statewide
(currently scheduled for 2019) to determine whether a temporary suspension, elimination or longer phase-
in of the scheduled increases is necessary, or if additional tax credits and/or the exclusion of employees
under the age of 21 are appropriate.
13. Support the Gateway Program to expand and renovate the Northeast Corridor rail line between New York
and New Jersey, and the Regional Plan Association’s proposal to take the existing Gateway plan and
extend it beneath the East River to Queens to allow riders to travel from New Jersey to Long Island.
14. Support and promote actions that will make child care and early education more affordable and accessible
to all working families on Long Island that will lead to additional economic development opportunities,
workplace productivity and retention of more young professionals and families. Also, advocate for
equitable state funding for pre-kindergarten education for Long Island.
15. Support implementation of a new, comprehensive energy master plan for Long Island to guide energy
policy decision making in the region while promoting diverse energy supplies and projects, including the
Governor’s call for 800 MW of offshore wind and other forms of renewable energy projects, the expansion
of natural gas by increasing domestic production, boosting imports and distributing it via existing and/or
new petroleum pipelines, the importation of more hydropower from Upstate and Canada, and incentives
for biofuels.
16. Curb soaring Medicaid costs for county governments by requesting the state take over each county's local
share, as is done in most states. This would help stabilize the finances for both Nassau and Suffolk
Counties.
17. Support efforts to upgrade and improve our telecommunications infrastructure, including the expansion of
small cell technology to increase capacity for wireless devices and bringing gigabit broadband service to
our region, which will attract new innovative businesses to Long Island, help existing businesses meet and
exceed the needs of their clients and customers, generate additional job growth and expand the capabilities
of our universities, hospitals and research institutions.
18. Support the implementation of the state’s $2.5 billion Clean Water Infrastructure Act, approved in 2017,
and ensure Long Island receives its fair share of funding in 2018 for investments in clean drinking and
surface waters, new sewers and upgraded septic systems and other environmental protection measures.
Also, support more investment in sewage infrastructure and 21st century septic systems in the region that
allows for mixed-use and transit-oriented development projects, especially those that will increase the
supply of rental housing on Long Island.
Infrastructure
• Support acceleration of the LIRR’s Double Track to Ronkonkoma project which will significantly increase
capacity and enhance service reliability by adding a second track to the LIRR’s Ronkonkoma branch, and
the East Side Access project which will bring the LIRR directly to Grand Central with a new two-level ter-
minal constructed below the existing terminal. Also, support the Governor’s plans to transform Penn Sta-
tion and the James A. Farley Post Office into a world-class transportation hub known as the Empire Sta-
tion Complex, while ensuring adequate space there for the LIRR, the opening of a new Republic Airport
rail station and a pilot shuttle bus service connecting Stony Brook University with the Villages of Stony
Brook and Port Jefferson.
• Support funding for Round VIII of the state’s Regional Economic Development Councils which includes
core capital and tax credit funding combined with a wide range of existing agency programs. Also, support
funding for Round III of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative which invests millions of dollars to help
transform communities ripe for development into vibrant neighborhoods.
• Remain open to supporting some recommendations from the Governor’s Fix NYC Task Force conditioned
upon revenues being directed exclusively to the maintenance, improvement and expansion of mass transit
as well as to bus service in the suburbs such as NICE in Nassau County and Suffolk Transportation in Suf-
folk County, and conditioned upon the prohibition of the restoration of the commuter tax (repealed in
1999) or any expansion of the Metropolitan Commuter Transportation Mobility Tax (began in 2009 and
modified in 2011), and work with Nassau and Suffolk Counties to ensure each county receives its fair
share of state aid to support their bus systems.
• Support Suffolk County’s “I-Zone” initiative to encourage regional growth and vibrancy by creating a
multi modal north-south corridor that links three LIRR branches and improve connections among world-
renowned Long Island universities and research institutions with transit-oriented development communi-
ties while also supporting expanded bus rapid transit routes linking employee trips with LIRR stations and
employment hubs.
• Support new initiatives for substantial federal investments in infrastructure, including the creation of a na-
tional infrastructure bank, and also support a New York State Department of Transportation Capital Plan
that fully funds critical road, highway and bridge projects on Long Island.
• Support the Port Authority’s Cross-Harbor Freight Program to improve the movement of freight and goods
across the Hudson River and New York Harbor, which will spur job creation and enhance the region's eco-
nomic competitiveness in a more efficient, environmentally friendly and cost-effective method for Long
Island and other parts of the state.
• Support the efforts of Governor Cuomo and the Port Authority to modernize and redevelop LaGuardia Air-
port and John F. Kennedy Airport to meet the needs of the 21st century economy with public-private part-
nerships that will leverage billions of dollars in new investments, enhance amenities, increase capacity,
reduce congestion and expand connectivity with the LIRR, which will give Long Islanders additional op-
tions and convenience for air travel.
• Support expansion of the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) program,
which provides federal credit assistance to finance surface transportation projects of national and regional
significance to small municipalities who can then use the funding to borrow against their projects.
• Work with Organized Labor to support efforts to create good-paying careers for its members and for our
region.
Energy

• Support settlement of LIPA’s tax certiorari lawsuits against munici-

palities to ensure equity for the region and fairness for the host com-
munities.
• Support the state’s Reforming the Energy Vision efforts to address
climate change and create a clean energy economy on Long Island by
encouraging the growth of the region's renewable energy industries,
including the planned Deepwater Wind offshore wind farm and others
being considered for the Atlantic Ocean, and the continued develop-
ment of solar power and electric and fuel efficient vehicles.
• Continue to advocate that LIPA donate the land at the Shoreham nu-
clear power plant site for a manufacturing park for wind turbines and/
or solar panels.
• Promote the efforts of Stony Brook University and Brookhaven Na-
tional Laboratory to advance micro grids, battery testing and develop-
ment and super-conductivity on Long Island, attracting R&D-focused
companies to take advantage of the human capital and physical plants
of these institutions.
• Support investments in Long Island’s energy infrastructure to ensure
available and reliable power while strengthening the resiliency of the
grid to withstand extreme weather events like Superstorm Sandy.
• Support expansion of the natural gas distribution system to presently
underserved areas which will result in a more efficient, affordable and
cleaner fuel source and support expeditious approvals by state agen-
cies on permit and other regulatory requests so businesses can move
forward and invest in a timely way.
• Support a standardized commercial wind permitting building code as
was approved for the solar industry.
Innovation Economy
• Support the creation of a world-leading, multi-scale Bio-Imaging facility at Brookhaven National
Laboratory, which would attract scientific and commercial users from throughout the country and around
the world, as well as an Electron Ion Collider that would be a new type of particle accelerator exploring
the subatomic world.
• Advance “LI-Bio” – a committee of the LIA that serves as a platform to help expand Long Island’s
burgeoning sector of companies focused on biotechnology and life sciences and that acts as a forum for
those in these industries to network and collaborate. Also, build upon the life sciences initiatives
announced by Governor Cuomo and potential synergies and opportunities between New York City and
Long Island.
• Continue to assist our academic institutions with participating in the Excelsior Business Program and
other state and local economic development efforts to spur the growth of high-tech and biotech startup
companies on Long Island. Also, continue to administratively support Accelerate Long Island.
• Support Long Island’s public and private colleges and universities; increased state funding for SUNY and
our community colleges; and additional TAP and Bundy Aid, an improved Enhanced Tuition Awards
program through elimination of price controls and an allowance for schools to count the money they
already invest in financial aid as part of the required match and the creation of a dedicated R&D fund for
our private schools.
• Support the Long Island Bioscience Hub (“LIBH”) and continued funding of the National Institutes of
Health Research Evaluation and Commercialization Hubs (“NIH REACH"); implement a Small Business
Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer (“SBIR/STTR”) Phase I/Phase II matching
funds program to help develop emerging bioscience companies; and support the LIBH Bioentrepreneur in
Residence initiative to recruit serial entrepreneurs to the region by providing milestone based incentives
tied to company formation, all of which will fuel economic growth, foster entrepreneurship and catalyze
new company formation across New York State.
• Support federal immigration reform to increase the number of H-1B visas and ensure highly skilled
immigrants can legally enter and stay in the U.S. to help drive Long Island's innovation economy.
• Support changing “Buy America” rules to include information technology and intellectual property.
• Support our great K-12 schools and workforce development programs to ensure a strong labor force for
the future while encouraging public-private partnerships in education using alternative education models
and career and technical opportunities provided by Nassau and Suffolk BOCES.
• Support enhancing the engineering programs at our local colleges and universities with additional state
investments and modernized facilities while also supporting more participation in STEM programs at K-
12 schools.
• Continue to support existing and new manufacturing companies and the applied science industries.
• Support efforts to make our region safer from cybersecurity attacks and efforts to create a cybersecurity
industry on Long Island.
• Continue to assist businesses with the Global NY program to expand international trade for Long Island
companies with foreign countries, especially those linked to manufacturing.
Rental Housing/Land-Use/Regionally Significant Projects
• Support specific mixed-use and rental projects that are significant to our region, including Syosset Park in
Oyster Bay and projects in downtown Lindenhurst, Hicksville, Wyandanch, Hempstead and other
communities while continuing to support the overall redevelopment of EPCAL in Riverhead. Also, support
Governor Cuomo’s proposal to invest in the growth of the business districts in Smithtown and Kings Park
with sewer investments in those downtowns.

• Work with the Association for a Better Long Island and the Long Island Builders Institute to support state
legislation that would allow municipalities to implement a “professional certification” program in order to
save commercial landlords time and money when they are making non-complex changes to their buildings
in order to attract or keep tenants, thus allowing a municipality in certain circumstances to issue a building
permit/certificate of occupancy by relying on the certification of a Professional Engineer or Registered
Architect that the building renovations were completed in compliance with applicable building and zoning
laws and codes.

• Support specific affordable, rental and multifamily housing goals for each municipality on Long Island.

• Support efforts to improve New York State's Brownfields program that would increase the construction of
rental housing on these sites.

• Improve the State Environmental Quality Review Act to streamline municipal permitting programs in
order to give developers and businesses a more certain, workable timetable for the environmental review of
major projects.

• Support the creation of a special New York State Supreme Court for land-use litigation to allow courts to
develop expertise in the field and to accelerate judicial decisions.

Natural Assets and our Communities

• Support the work of the groundwater resource protection plans being prepared by the Long Island Regional
Planning Council and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (while not
overregulating or hindering the business community) to reduce nitrogen and other harmful pollutants as
our economy is strengthened by a healthy environment and a degraded environment produces fewer jobs.
• Support programs and policies to respond to the opioid crisis which is also negatively impacting
employers, employees and the overall economy, as well as more state funding for drug education and
prevention in our schools.
• Support the financial viability of our not-for-profit hospitals in Nassau and Suffolk Counties and their
employees as the federal government proceeds to potentially repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act,
and support measures to ensure that any new health insurance system established by the federal
government does not impose unnecessary or onerous costs, mandates and burdens on the business
community.
• Help ensure fair and equitable federal and state rules to expand and promote sustainable agriculture,
fisheries, wineries, aquaculture and the tourism industries, particularly on the East End.
• Support the LIA’s Young Professionals Committee to help train the next generation of business leaders,
provide opportunities for employees ages 22-35 to network and collaborate, integrate their input in
confronting the challenges facing young people on Long Island and take the necessary actions to attract
and retain young people in the region while modifying the workplace to make it more appealing to
millennials.
• Support measures to improve and expedite New York’s foreclosure process to address the problem of
vacant and abandoned properties in foreclosure, relieve the backlogged court system, reduce the amount
of time homes sit in disrepair and promote neighborhood stability.
• Support our cultural arts, environmental and recreational activities to promote Long Island as a great place
to live, work, visit and play.
• Help sustain and strengthen the not-for-profit industry on Long Island as it is a significant economic
generator and an essential social services resource for the region.
• Support the growing film and television industry on Long Island.
• Support Discover Long Island, the region’s official tourism promotion agency for Nassau and Suffolk
Counties and efforts to leverage resources for the region for destination marketing and economic
development opportunities, including the need for a state-of-the-art convention center on Long Island; and
ensure equitable state funding for the region from the “I Love NY” campaign.
• Work with local Chambers of Commerce to encourage shopping in our downtowns, establish business-to-
business communications to serve the needs of the small business community and maintain Long Island as
an appealing destination for major retailers.
• Support new laws, education and the efforts of the Nassau and Suffolk County Police Departments, and
other federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, to address and reduce crime and eradicate gangs
in order to maintain the region’s high standard of public safety.
• Support equality and diversity on Long Island and speak out against speech that breeds hatred, especially
against undocumented immigrants, which is wrong and hurts the perception of our business region.
Continue to support our local minority- and women-owned businesses by working with the Long Island
African American Chamber of Commerce, the Long Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the
LIA’s Women’s Collaborative, while protecting and supporting the rights of children and adults with
disabilities to ensure fairness in the allocation of federal and state procurement opportunities for
businesses and in matters of public policy.
• Support Long Island’s veterans’ population – the largest in New York State – and programs that would
provide additional funding for job training, employment placement and other essential assistance to the
heroes who served our country.
• Advocate for increased state support for the Hunger Prevention Nutrition Assistance Program above the
planned base level funding to establish a new Regional Food Bank Innovative Outreach Grant.
• Support legislative reforms to make the New York State court system more efficient, more accessible to
litigants and less costly to businesses, and support the creation of a 5th Department of the Appellate
Division for Nassau and Suffolk Counties.
Reduce the Property Tax Burden and Support Tax Policies to Enhance the
Business Climate in our Region
Mandate Relief

• Eliminate unfunded and underfunded mandates imposed by the state to help local governments and school
districts comply with the property tax cap and oppose any new unfunded and underfunded mandates.
• Reduce the cost of construction by repealing the state's Wicks Law which adds to the cost of public
projects.
• Reform the state's Scaffold Law by making liability standards against owners of construction projects less
onerous and more fair in terms of fault allocation and liability standards.
• Support the expansion and permanent extension of the design-build method of project delivery.
• Support additional reforms to workers' compensation and unemployment insurance to help lower costs to
businesses.

Controlling the Cost of Public Pensions, Salaries and Benefits

• Support legislation that would require all public employees participating in the New York State Retirement
System to contribute 25% towards their health insurance costs.
• Expand the New York State retirement system Tier VI's optional defined contribution plan (currently
available to non-union employees salaried at $75,000 and higher) to include all existing and future
employees.
• Support legislation affecting all public employees who participate in the New York State Retirement
System to reduce the future retirement earnings credit for a year of government service to 1.5%; to increase
the retirement age to 66; and prohibit use of any overtime in calculating the final salaries pensions are
based upon, all of which will help stabilize the pension fund.
• Support legislation that would end binding arbitration for public sector labor disputes and/or support a cap
on mandatory arbitration awards.
• Repeal the portion of the Triborough Amendment that requires automatic salary step increases to be paid to
public employees after labor contracts expire.
• Support school, special district and municipal consolidation measures.
• Support ethics reforms and campaign finance reforms as corruption in all levels of government hurts the
region’s business climate.
Taxes and Regulatory Policies

• Advocate for a more equitable share of federal and

state government funding as our updated Balance of
Payments Report shows Long Islanders send $28
billion more to Albany and Washington, D.C. in tax
revenues than we receive in state and federal aid and
benefits in return, which will only increase in light of
the cap on SALT deductions.
• Support legislation to move tax assessment
responsibility from Nassau County to the towns and
cities in Nassau County as is done in Suffolk County.
• Support permanent enactment of various federal tax
benefits, including research and development credits,
bonus depreciation, domestic manufacturing and
green energy.
• Support broad based federal and state tax relief
measures to modernize business, make our tax
structure more competitive, lower costs on
businesses and keep New Yorkers from leaving the
state.
• Eliminate the New York State estate tax.
• Advocate for increased cooperation among states to
reform and ease shipping and tax laws so Long
Island wines can reach new markets.
• Cut the federal and New York State capital gains
taxes to incentivize businesses to locate here and
reward savings and investment as we have one of the
highest combined rates on the top marginal tax rate
in the country.
• Advocate for payment of past due real property tax
refund judgments to Nassau County commercial
property owners.
• Reduce federal and state corporate tax rates.
• Oppose any additional federal and state taxes,
assessments, fees and unnecessary regulations that
hurt job growth and economic development.
• Work with the Suffolk County Alliance of Chambers
to support federal and state legislation that would
offer small businesses with fewer than 50 employees
an option to create a tax deferred savings account
similar to a 401k or IRA with tax-free deposits of
funds and withdrawals that would be limited to the
purposes of creating or retaining full-time jobs
during an economic downturn or to recover from a
natural disaster.
 2017 LIA Accomplishments
 Successfully led the efforts to secure final approval for the LIRR Third Track project after creating and co-
chairing the Right Track Coalition.

 Helped secure $160 million in Transformative Investment Project funds for projects at the Nassau Hub,
Ronkonkoma Hub, LIRR station enhancements and better system connectivity with a new airport terminal
at MacArthur Airport and sewers that will support economic growth in Smithtown and Kings Park.

 Helped secure $650 million in state funding for a Life Sciences Industry Cluster in New York to fuel the
growth of a world-class life sciences cluster, which will build upon the efforts of the LIA to cultivate the
industry on Long Island.

 Co-Chaired the Long Island Regional Economic Development Council which again ranked as a “Top
Performer” in Round VII of the awards, winning an $84.3 million haul, and also secured funding for
Round II of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative.

 Built on the success of the LIA’s Women’s Collaborative, commemorated the 100th anniversary of
women’s suffrage in New York and supported businesswomen’s issues like equal pay and anti-
discrimination and harassment measures. Also, led efforts to promote gender, racial and ethnic diversity by
pursuing various policies and holding seminars about MWBE.

 Participated in efforts to ensure the New York Islanders returned home to Long Island where they will
soon play at a new, state-of-the-art arena at Belmont Park and led efforts to encourage the team to play
their home games at the Nassau Coliseum while the new arena is being built.

 Supported the approval of the region’s first offshore wind farm off Block Island and the developer’s 90
MW project 30 miles southeast of Montauk which was selected by LIPA.

 Secured state funding to study the feasibility of a bridge or tunnel across the Long Island Sound.
 Produced key reports and analyses through the LIA Research Institute on the region’s changing
demographics, increases in millennial population, tax impacts of Medicaid, growing poverty rates in the
region, and federal tax reform’s impacts on the region’s competitiveness and middle class.

 Led the business community’s efforts to generate regional support for new airlines and destinations at
MacArthur Airport; as well as improved airport connectivity with the LIRR.

 Led regional efforts to support continued progress at mixed-use and transit-oriented development projects
in Ronkonkoma, Glen Cove, Lindenhurst, Hampton Bays and others.

 Helped the business community learn, understand and comply with major new workplace rules
implemented by the state with respect to paid family leave and the new minimum wage.

 Led the business community’s support of a $2.5 billion Clean Water Bond Act which was approved and
will help preserve, enhance, restore and improve the quality of the state's water and related infrastructure.

 Successfully advocated for reforms to the state’s workers’ compensation system to lower costs and burdens
on the business community.

 Led the business community’s support for the state approval of ridesharing services like Uber and Lyft,
and additional funding for local bus service.

 Continued to train future business leaders and make the region more appealing to young professionals
through the work of the LIA’s Young Professionals Committee.
 2017 Major Events Hosted by the LIA

January 13th – State of the Region Executive

Breakfast

March 1st – LIA Annual Membership Meeting

March 9th – Executive Breakfast with NYS

Department of Environmental Conservation
Commissioner Basil Seggos

March 10th – Spring Luncheon with Peyton

Manning and Eli Manning

May 19th – Annual Gala

May 24th – Seminar on new New York State Paid

Family Leave Law

June 6th – Executive Breakfast Panel on the

proposed New York State Constitutional
Convention

June 21st – Business Roundtable with Canadian

Consul General for New York

June 28th – Commemoration of 100th Anniversary

of Women’s Suffrage in New York

July 10th – New York State Offshore Wind Master

Plan Open House with NYSERDA

July 27th – Executive Breakfast with NYS

Department of Financial Services Superintendent
Maria Vullo

October 4th – Offshore Wind Farm Boat Tour

October 16th – Minority and Women-Owned

Business Enterprise Seminar

October 26th – Nassau County Executive Debate

October 26th – Real Estate Roundtable with New

York State Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul

November 8th – LIA Young Professionals

Committee Transportation Event and Reception

November 17th – Executive Breakfast with United

States Members of Congress Peter King and Tom
Suozzi

December 12th – Business Roundtable with new

Nassau County Executive Laura Curran
LIA Member Strategic Committees
Economic Development and Infrastructure Committee, co-chaired by Michael Maturo,
President and CFO for RXR Realty LLC and Matthew Whalen, Senior Vice President,
Development for AvalonBay Communities, Inc. and vice-chaired by Ellen Rudin,
Managing Director for CBRE and John Gutleber, President and CEO of Castagna Realty.
The Economic Development and Infrastructure Committee looks at ways to grow Long
Island's economy and create jobs while also evaluating issues that include transportation,
housing, real estate, minority- and women -owned businesses and international trade.
Energy and Environment Committee, co-chaired by Robert Catell, Chairman of the
Advanced Energy Research & Technology Center and Gene Bernstein, Chairman of
Northville Industries NIC Holding Corp. and vice-chaired by John Bruckner, Senior Vice
President, U.S. Operations and Engineering at National Grid. The Energy and
Environment Committee considers a variety of issues, including green jobs and generation,
efficiency, groundwater protection, agriculture and clean air.
Financial Services and Tax Policy Committee, co-chaired by Jeffrey Alter, CEO of
UnitedHealthcare Commercial Group and William Savino, Partner, Rivkin Radler LLP
and vice-chaired by Miriam Tanenbaum, Market Executive, Head of Long Island/Queens,
Commercial Banking, Capital One Bank and Carolyn Mazzenga, Partner-in-Charge,
Marcum LLP. The Financial Services and Tax Policy Committee explores tax, insurance
and banking issues and the impact of various proposals and regulations on the region.
Health, Education and Not-for-Profit Committee, co-chaired by Sam Stanley, President
of Stony Brook University and Robert Isaksen, LI Market President of Bank of America
and vice-chaired by Drew Bogner, President, Molloy College. The Health, Education and
Not-for-Profit Committee discusses health insurance and accessibility, education issues
and ways to foster the work of not-for-profit organizations.
Small and Mid-Sized Business Committee, co-chaired by Katherine Heaviside, President
of Epoch 5 Public Relations and Ernie Canadeo, President of The EGC Group, Inc. and
vice-chaired by Crisler Quick, President, The Finance Department. The Small and Mid-
Sized Business Committee advances positions that support the great majority of Long
Island's business community; our small and mid-sized businesses.
Long Island Association’s Women’s Collaborative, co-chaired by Joy Fernandez,
Office Managing Partner, EY. The Long Island Association’s Women’s Collaborative is
an innovative new model that is bringing together, empowering and engaging Long
Island’s leading businesswomen while encouraging partnerships and providing support,
education and growth opportunities. In turn, the businesswomen involved in the
Collaborative are informing the LIA about issues important to them and the region’s
economic vitality, such as equal pay for equal work and making child care and early
education opportunities more affordable and accessible to working families.
Young Professionals Committee, chaired by Anthony Dalessio, Managing Partner,
KPMG. The Young Professionals Committee is comprised of a diverse group of
employees ages 22-35 who are designated by members of the LIA Board of Directors. The
LIA is thus helping train the next generation of business leaders and integrating their input
in confronting the challenges facing young people on Long Island while giving them an
opportunity to learn, network and collaborate with each other.
LI-Bio, co-chaired by Bruce Stillman, President, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and
Seymour Liebman, Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer & General
Counsel, Senior Managing Executive Officer, Canon U.S.A., Inc. Our newest committee,
LI-Bio, serves as a platform to help expand Long Island's burgeoning sector of companies
focused on biotechnology, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, cosmeceutical and life sciences.
 2017 LONG ISLAND ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Jeffrey D. Alter John T. Costanzo Esther Fortunoff (Vice Chair)

CEO - Commercial Group President Vice President
United HealthCare Purolator International, Inc. Fortunoff Jewelry

Gene M. Bernstein Robert Coughlan Kevin Gershowitz

Chairman Principal President
Northville Industries TRITEC Real Estate Company Gershow Recycling Corp.
NIC Holding Corp.
Brian C. Cullen Doon Gibbs
Edward J. Blaskey Co-President & Co-Chief Operating Director
Executive Vice President Officer Brookhaven National Laboratory
Market President - Long Island King Kullen Grocery Co., Inc.
Sterling National Bank Wayne Grossé
William J. Cunningham, III President and Chief Executive
Drew Bogner Vice President Officer
President Government And Community Bethpage Federal Credit Union
Molloy College Affairs
Northwell Health John Gutleber
John Bruckner President & CEO
Senior Vice President Anthony N. Dalessio Castagna Realty
U.S. Operations and Engineering Managing Partner
National Grid KPMG LLP Katherine Heaviside (Secretary)
President
John Burke Mark S. Davis Epoch 5 Public Relations
Managing Director Managing Partner, Long Island
Head of Metro NY Middle Market Deloitte Phyllis Hill Slater
Banking President
Citi Commercial Bank Daniel Deegan Hill Slater Group
Partner
Edward Bushey Forchelli Deegan Terrana Henry Holley (Director Emeritus)
Co-Publisher President/CEO
Newsday Media Group Jane Duggan The Holley Group, Inc.
SVP, Team Leader
Calvin O. Butts, III TD Bank Richard Humann, P.E.
President President & CEO
SUNY College at Old Westbury John R. Durso H2M Architects & Engineers
President
Ernest G. Canadeo Long Island Federation of Labor Frank Ingrassia (Vice Chair)
President AFL - CIO President and Chief Executive
The EGC Group, Inc. Officer
Dan Eichhorn Clever Devices
Robert B. Catell President and Chief Operating
Chairman Officer Robert A. Isaksen
Advanced Energy Research & PSEG Long Island LI Market President
Technology Center Bank of America
Stony Brook University Michael L. Faltischek, Esq.
(Treasurer) Peter Kaplan
Kimberly R. Cline Senior Partner Managing Partner
President Ruskin Moscou Faltischek, P.C. PwC
Long Island University
Joy Fernandez Anil Kapoor
Stephen Conboy Office Managing Partner President & CEO
Chief Financial Officer EY SVAM International, Inc.
The Nature’s Bounty Co.
Michael T. Keenan
Regional V.P. - LI
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
Ellen Labita
Partner
Baker Tilly
Kevin S. Law
President and Chief Executive
Officer
Long Island Association, Inc.
James Lester
Executive Vice President
Sports & Entertainment
Development
Forest City Ratner Companies
Michael Lessing
Chief Operating Officer
Lessing’s Inc.
Seymour Liebman (Vice Chair)
Executive Vice President
Chief Administrative Officer
& General Counsel
Senior Managing Executive Officer Adelphi University
Canon Inc.
Donna Linke-Klein
Senior Product Line Director,
Identification and Mission
Computing Products
BAE Systems
Louis Mastrianni
Managing Director & Region
Manager
Chase
Michael Maturo (1st Vice Chair)
President
RXR Realty LLC
Carolyn Mazzenga
Partner-In-Charge
Marcum LLP
Douglas McCrosson
President and CEO
CPI Aerostructures Inc.
Patrick Nowakowski
President
MTA Long Island Rail Road
Paule T. Pachter Bruce Stillman
CEO President
Long Island Cares, Inc. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
The Harry Chapin Food Bank
Charles M. Strain (Legal Counsel)
Philip Panarelli Partner
Senior Vice President Farrell Fritz, P.C.
HSBC Bank USA, N.A.
Miriam B. Tanenbaum
Chintu Patel Market Executive
Co-CEO & Chairman, Co-Founder Head of Long Island/Queens
Amneal Pharmaceuticals Commercial Banking
Capital One Bank
Crisler Quick
President Michael N. Vittorio
The Finance Department President & CEO
The First National Bank of Long
Stuart Rabinowitz Island
President
Hofstra University Lawrence J. Waldman (Chairman)
Senior Adviser
Stuart Richner First Long Island Investors
President
Richner Communications Matthew B. Whalen
Senior Vice President,
Christine Riordan Development
President AvalonBay Communities, Inc.
Ellen S. Rudin
Managing Director
CBRE | Advisory & Transaction
Services
Bob Sanders
Senior Vice President
Data Capture Solutions Business
Zebra Technologies, Inc.
William M. Savino
Partner
Rivkin Radler LLP
Lois Carter Schlissel
Managing Partner
Meyer, Suozzi, English & Klein,
P.C.
Scott Schoen
Vice President & Publisher
Long Island Business News
Samuel L. Stanley, Jr., M.D.
President
Stony Brook University